Cavaliers: Mike Brown concocting plans for top pick Anthony Bennett

When a team drafts a player No. 1 overall, like the Cavaliers did with UNLV's Anthony Bennett, normally they find a way to get him on the floor. At first glance, it's going to be difficult for the 6-foot-7, 240-pounder to earn minutes at power forward.

There appears to be a logjam at power forward on the Cavs, with no less than six players who can play the position: Returning starter Tristan Thompson, Anderson Varejao, Kevin Jones, Earl Clark, Tyler Zeller and Bennett.

Of course, Varejao was the starting center when he injured his knee last season. He was replaced in the starting lineup by Zeller.

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Cavs coach Mike Brown said he's devised a plan in order for Bennett to get minutes at power forward.

"He's a '4,'" Brown said in a telephone interview from Las Vegas. "That's where he's going to play for us. Way, way, way down the road, we might try him at '3.' Now, he's strictly a '4.' "

How is he going to get minutes at power forward?

"I got it figured," Brown said. "His ability to score in a lot of different ways is intriguing. His explosiveness is intriguing. His standing reach is higher than lot of guys playing power forward in the league, including Kevin Love. He's got long arms. There's a desire to want to be better. He has a lot of upside."

Bennett is still recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum. Brown said he expects the rookie to be ready for training camp.

The Cavs added two 19-year-olds in the draft in Bennett and Russian swingman Sergey Karasev. They also used a second-round pick on Arizona State swingman Carrick Felix.

In free agency, they signed point guard Jarrett Jack, Clark and center Andrew Bynum. Bynum's contract is reportedly finished and he is expected to be introduced during a news conference Thursday at Cleveland Clinic Courts.

"(Cavs general manager) Chris Grant has done a phenomenal job," Brown said. "He doesn't get the credit he deserves."

He's thrilled with the addition of Jack.

"He brings professionalism to the table," Brown said. "He comes up big in big games. He's able to get his shot, and get shots for others. He has a sense of toughness this team needed. I'm excited."

Brown had a big hand in acquiring Clark, who played for him with the Los Angeles Lakers last season.

"We're going to try him at the '3,'" he said. "His natural position is probably '4.' I've watched enough tape on him to see him guard players '2' through '5.' I truly believe that's something he can do, and do well for us. My concern is mostly on the defensive side. He has length and toughness."

Brown isn't worried about how much Clark is going to score. He shot 33.7 percent from the 3-point line last year. It was the first season in the NBA in which he's attempted at least 100 3s.

"I don't need him to create," Brown said. "We need him to defend, rebound and move that basketball. I want him to catch and shoot.

"He's starting to spread his wings (as a player). The situation was right (to sign him)."

Clark is just one of the newcomers that will help improve the Cavs' defense this season.

"We have a chance to be a good defensive unit. The guys are excited. They are all buying in. I coached the first four practices out here (in Las Vegas). The guys out here have a decent feel for what we're going to do."

Brown is thrilled with the coaching staff he's put together. Two of the coaches were former head coaches, including lead assistant Jim Boylan and veteran Bernie Bickerstaff. Bickerstaff hired Brown to his first coaching job in Denver as a video coordinator.

"We have experience, young guys, guys that have won, guys that have been on NBA championship staffs," Brown said. "(Bickerstaff) has been around a long time."

Boylan is known as a defensive specialist, with Igor Kokoskov an offensive guru. Neither of them will hold those titles.

"My philosophy is still the same. You can take your defense and move it from team to team to team. It's based on effort, trust and communication. We'll put in an offense that caters to the team's skill set."

Quick shots

n Point guard Chris Quinn and Jones both took blows to the head and suffered concussions at summer league. "They are going through all those tests," Brown said.

n Brown said there's a chance the Cavs will bring Quinn to training camp. However, he said the Cavs are always open to making adjustments to their roster. Both him and Jones have non-guaranteed contracts for next season.

n The Cavs have added Wisconsin center Jared Berggren to their summer league roster. The 6-11, 240-pounder appeared in two games for the Magic in the Orlando Summer League earlier this month. In four years at Wisconsin, he averaged 7.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in 119 games. He will wear No. 37.